Guest Column: JH Ranch

Wednesday

Apr 9, 2014 at 9:15 AM

My name is Jerry Stacher and I have worked for JH Ranch for five years as the director of operations and construction, and maintenance supervisor.

Jerry Stacher,Etna

My name is Jerry Stacher and I have worked for JH Ranch for five years as the director of operations and construction, and maintenance supervisor. Prior to coming to JH, I worked as a general contractor and real estate agent. Both careers were rewarding but not always a great source of financial security for my family. When I had an opportunity to apply for a job at JH, I was reluctant to go to work for another company and give up what I thought would be the things I enjoyed most about my previous careers. I never imagined how many truly wonderful people I would meet at JH Ranch, many of whom have become my best friends.

As a fourth generation Scott Valley native committed to our local economy, I know how important it is for a business like JH Ranch to use local resources. During my tenure at JH, I have worked with at least 10 local general contractors and sub contractors on a variety of construction and maintenance projects. This doesn’t include the multiple dump truck owners in the area that deliver gravel, soil and sand for road maintenance and landscape projects.

JH is committed to shopping locally and does business with suppliers such as Fort Jones Lumber Yard, Etna Hardware, Frontier Hardware, Napa Auto Parts, Moore’s Gravel, Valley Tire and Scott Valley Ready Mix. Our sphere of influence extends over the hill into Yreka where we do business with places such as Meek’s Lumber, Ken’s Glass, Family Carpet & Things, Cooley & Pollard, L& M Rental, Yreka Paint and Jim Wilson Motors to mention a few.

Every employee at JH Ranch including myself and my family along with every contractor, sub contractor and vendor contributes financially to our local economy. I’ve lived in Scott Valley for about 32 of the 47 years I have been alive. I watched the once thriving logging industry be virtually destroyed, mills shut down and businesses close or relocate because our local economy could not support them. The population of Scott Valley is no different than it was 30 years ago. We need businesses in Scott Valley like JH Ranch to hire local people as employees, to hire local contractors and sub contractors to do their work and to purchase materials from local vendors.

It makes me feel proud to know that JH Ranch has had such a positive economic impact on dozens of families’ lives in Scott Valley. I will never be able to fully explain the impact JH Ranch has had on me personally as well as my family. JH Ranch has provided a solid and steady source of income for the past five years, both for me as well as 10 other full time staff members who live in Scott Valley.

I recently had a battle with cancer and there were many times I was not able to fully perform my duties at the Ranch. They continued to pay my salary during this time and were more concerned with my health than anything else. To know every day dozens of people were praying for me and my family is something I will never forget. In my previous careers, I would have been left without income, without insurance, without emotional support and would have suffered great economic harm. I have been truly blessed by JH Ranch and all the great people who work here.

I have also seen hundreds of lives changed, broken families healed and youths have their lives transformed. I’ve watched hundreds of people shed tears as teenagers share that without JH Ranch their lives would continue down paths of destruction. Some of the testimonies I have heard are some of the most powerful moments I have ever experienced in my life. When my son went through one of the programs at JH, he made many friends, some he has kept in contact with for years.

When the Scott Valley Area Plan was approved, the population of Scott Valley was approximately 6,000 people. The plan says it will permit a future population growth of roughly three times the existing 6,000 water shed population. According to the Scott Valley Area Plan, the projected population in Scott Valley for 2014 is approximately 21,000 people. According to the current Siskiyou County Census per zip codes, the population in Scott Valley is less than 6,000. We have not grown at all.

Our kids have very little opportunity to stay here and raise their children as I did. If it were not for my job at JH Ranch I would have been faced with the decision to move my family to another location. Instead, my kids were able to finish school at Etna High and become the fifth generation to be raised in Scott Valley. It’s time for us to stand up and fight for business, fight for the future of our kids and grandkids so that they can enjoy what we were so blessed to have. It would be nice if we could stop slamming the door on business in Scott Valley so only we can enjoy God’s creation and allow our families, friends, kids and grandkids the continued blessing we have been allowed to say, “Scott Valley is my home.” NOT, “Scott Valley was my home.”